Ship Engineer salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Ship Engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $108,900 a year ($52.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,670 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $109,530. Pay here is 1% higher than the Washington statewide median of $107,940. There are 0.28 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $111,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ship engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,530 | $29.58 |
| 25th percentile | $82,510 | $39.67 |
| Median | $108,900 | $52.35 |
| 75th percentile | $140,490 | $67.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,670 | $81.57 |
| Average (mean) | $111,580 | $53.65 |
Half of ship engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,075 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,537.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,188.46 |
| Weekly | $2,094.23 |
| Hourly | $52.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Ship Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $88,800 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for ship engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $133,640 |
| Hawaii | $131,640 |
| Florida | $130,480 |
| Texas | $127,810 |
| Massachusetts | $122,720 |
| Indiana | $122,190 |
| Kentucky | $120,550 |
| Rhode Island | $119,330 |
| Connecticut | $119,010 |
| New Jersey | $118,310 |
See Ship Engineer pay in every state or the Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $109,080 | $52.44 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $68,740 | $33.05 |
| Motorboat Operator | $59,970 | $28.83 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $46,830 | $22.52 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,590 | $23.84 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $55,600 | $26.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $76,390 | $36.73 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $83,430 | $40.11 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $42,750 | $20.56 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $66,380 | $31.91 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $41,570 | $19.98 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-5031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ship engineer make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for ship engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $108,900 a year, or $52.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of ship engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $169,670 a year. The top 25% earn $140,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,530 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $82,510 or less.
How many ship engineers work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 580 ship engineers are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.